Pneumatic feeding device for printing presses



y A. KLUGE ET Al.y PNEUMATIC FEEDING DEVICE' FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed July 19, 1919 9 sheets-sheet 1 abe Z WIr/Lge nepal, Fluge O'ct. 30, 1923. 1,472,656

A. KLUGE ET AL `PNEUMATIC FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed July 19, 1919 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 3o 1923; 1,472,656

A. KLUGE ET AL y PNEUMATTC FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed July 19 1919 l 9 Sheets-511861, 5

rcverz'rs be L rffl/Zuge, jneva. l Kluge Oct. 30, 1923. j 1,472,656

A. KLUGE ET AL PNEUMATlC FEEDING DEVICE FOR lPRINTING' PRESSES WeA Oct. 30, 1923. 1,472,656

A. KLUGE ET AL PNEUMATICI FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed July 19, 1919 9 sheets-Sheet 5 j Inu'enra abel filage i 'Eneval Kluge.

dorne g si Oct. 30, 1923. 1,472,656 A. KLUGE. ET AL PNEUMATIC FEEDING DEEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed July 19, 1919 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 P/Lg. 2, O

Oct. 30,1923. l `1,472,656

A` KLUGE ET AL A PNEUMATIC FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed July 19, 1919 9 Sheets-Sheet? z5' if@ oct. 30,1923. 1,472,656 f A. KLUGE ET AL.

PNEUMATIC FIEDINGr DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed July 19, 1919 9 sheets-sheet abeL ffztvzge, III/evgl WIr/age 1,472,656 A. KLUGE ET Al.

PNEUMATIC FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed July 19, 1919 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Inve 1115 rs abe-Z Kluge Eneval Kluge,

' SOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

IISE GE mconromrnn, or s'r. PAUL, MINNE- To Y, .c IBe it known that we, 'AnLgKLUcn and ENEVAL KLUGF.,y citizens of the United States,

respectivel residingy at Y St. Paul, inthe 5 county.'` of flamsey'andmstateof Minnesota, have invented anewand useful Pneumatic Feeding ',Device. for PrintingluPresses, of 'which the following isa specification.

Our invention relatesfto improvements'inf l pneumatic` feedlng devices for use more es-..

pecially with printing presses of the platen type.

Its object is to provide a simpleand duray ble device of this kind designed to grip a.4r

l sheet of papel', remove it from` a-feeding i table without disturbing adjacent n, sheets,-

place said sheet in position upon the platen of a press and after the` impression is made to grip the printed sheet, carry it to a .de

livery table and release the same thereon, the

gripping ofthe Sheet by both feeding and delivery mechanisms beingy accomplished by means of suction, thus eliminating entirely the use of mechanical gripping appliances.

A further object, is to providea device of this kindadapted to be readily attached to printing presses of'standard design.

A further object is to provide in a device of this nature, :novel means for successively reach of the feeding arm and also to incorporate Y in said means, novel mechanism whereby the feeding 4tahle may be expeditiously replenished with additional sheets of paper.

Another object is to supply an 1mproved attachment for platen presses whereby certain parts thereof may be readily adjusted to permit easy access to the platen and other parts of theprinting press.

A further object is to supply in a device of this nature, novel means for actuating they carrying sheets of paper to position withiny typewaneer impida-d feed'ing[astice"wil' ..1

tached thereto; Fig.2 is a frontelevationof 55. thev same;Fig` 3 is a,(left) side elevation.

, thereof; Fig. lLis a-viewillustrating indetail the delivery., army and mechanism` for j operating .the same; F ig. visfan enlarged SectiOnal'vieW'taken on the line 5--5 of Fig.`A 60 2 andshows in detailtheyvalvefor opening and Kclosingfthe air` conduit lleading to the sucf tion grips on said delivery arm; Fig. v6 is a.,v detail view illustrating .in plan, 'the feeding tablev of our improvedA devicepand yalso shows in dotted lines the inoperative position intov whichv said feeding table may` swing; Fig. 'Z

vis a detailsectional view taken on the line 7 7 ofvF ig. 6; F ig. .8 is a detail sectional view takenjon the line 8-8pf F ig.v6; Fig. 70 9 is a detail `vievv in elevationillustrating a ratchet device andfthread gripping-members which comprise part of the mechanism'for advancing sheets of paper'upon the feeding table.; Fig. 10 is similar view and shows the 75 cams for operatingv said lthread gripping an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 11-1'1 of Fig. 6; Fig. 12 is a detail view illustrating the feeding varm and support therefor, the latter bein vshown in cross section to disclose ya cut-o valve therein contained and also a piston for operating the press tripping mechanism; Fig. 13is-an enlarged sectional view inV detail illustratin the feeding arm and bearing therefor, togetpher with ports and air conduits forming the airk passage way to the suction grips at the end of said arm; Fig. 14

is a detail sectional view taken on the line 14e-14 of Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is a detail sec- 90y tional view taken on the line 15-#15 of Fig. 12 and illustrates a'yielding finger for holding sheets of paper 1n position against feeding guides upon the platen of a printing s press; Fig. 16 is a detai sectional view taken va5 on the line'16-16,of Fig. 12; Fig. 17` is an enlarged sectional view taken 4on the line 1-7-11 of Fig.v 12 and illustrates in detail a relief valve employed in the conduit com-l municating with the suction grips; Fig.v 18 100 isa'side elevation in detail sl'ow'ing the cams and lever assembly for operating thefeed ing and deliver arms; Fig. 19 is a side elevation in detai of the cam which` actuates the cut-off valve shown in Fig. 14, Aand Figs. tot

201:0 29 inclusive are diagrammatic reprsentations illustrating various positions of the l structing and clearing the feeding and `delivery arms, together with the actuating cams. therefor in various relative posit-ions throughout one cycle of the' latter.

In.k the drawings we have illustrated a platen' printing press of usual construction comprising a frame 30, a bed 31 pivoted thereto, a platen 32, driving gear 33 connected with said bed and platen and handlever 34 adapted to prevent engagement of lthe bed with the platen.

The embodiment chosen, as illustrative of our invention, comprises generally the following:

A feeding table 35 carried on the frame 30 of the press, a delivery table 36 mounted on said frame, an oscillatory feeding arm 37 suspended above the printing press and adapted to swing between said feeding table and the platen of the press, and oscillating delivery arm 38 arranged to swing backward and 4forward between said delivery table and platen, a suction and -pressure pump 39, the intake side thereofbeing connected with suction grips 40 and 40 upon said feeding arm and a suction grip 41 on the delivery arm, means for movingthe feeding and delivery arms, means for obair conduits. between said pump and grips, mechanism for advancing sheets of paper upon the feeding table 35 and an air jet 42 -connected with the exhaust side of said pump to aid in separating sheets of paper upon said table.

A sub-frame 43 attached to the main frame 30 of the printing press furnishes a mounting for the pump 39,y the actuating mechanism for the feeding and delivery arms 37 and 38 and also for the standard '44 upon which said feeding arm 37 is supported, all of which will more fully hereinafter appear. Attached to the standard 44 and to the frame 30 of the printing press is a guard 45- for the driving gear 33 of the press. This guard has a post 46 extending upwardly therefrom vand pivoted horizontally upon the top of said post is a supporting bar 47, said bar being turned downward at the free end thereof to form a leg 48 which rests upon the delivery table 36. The feeding table 35, carried upon said supporting bar 47, is inclined upward from the front of the press. Sheets of paper placed edgewise upon said table are supported in inclined position bya carrier 49, which is slidably mounted at its lower corners in ways 50 at the ends of said table. We provide mechanism for moving this carrier, step by step,to advance sheets upon the feeding table, said mechanism belng adapted also to permit free backward and forward movement of said carrier, whereby additional sheets may be readil put in place upon the table and the pack quie ly and euily advanced to feeding position. 'Lhs mochacover,

nism includes, a screw 51V rigidly secured at one end to the center of the carrier 49. Said screw passes through a journal box 52 carried upon supports 53 secured to the feeding platform 35.' A sleeve 54 revoluble in said journal box 52 slidably receives the screw 51. This sleeve 54 is enlarged at its.

forward end to form a disc or driven ratchet y member 55, angular notches 56 being cut in the periphery thereof to providel 'seats forroller-dogs 57. Surrounding said disc is a cup-shaped driving ratchet member 58 the inner periphery of the rim 59 contacting with the roller dogs 57. Upon clockwise rotation of said driving. ratchet member 58 (F ig. 9) said dogs are wedged between the periphery of said rim 59 and the inclined seats 60 of the notches 56 in said disc thereby imparting theA motion of the driving ratchet member 58 to the driven ratchet member 55. During reverse or counter-clockwise movement of said driving clutch member, the dogs 57 cease to. .function and permit said driving member to -turn freely. Slidably seated in depressions 61..in the face of the disc 55 are. female screw members 62, each member being supplied with a pin 63 protruding' therefrom. A

fragmentary bushing 64 integral with said disc 55 forms a journal for a cover 65 and a c'ollar 66 secured to said bushing holds said coverin place. Thepins 63 on said female screw members rest in cam slides 67 in said wise rotation to engage the members 62with the screw 51 and to release said members from said screw, when the cover is turned-.in the reverse or` clockwise direction. A groov'ed collar 68,; attached to the`.sleeve 54 at the rear of the journal box"52,.issupplid with a frictional brake band 69 adaptedtO yieldingly hold the driven ratchet member 55., A bell crank 70 is vmounted upon the post 46 above the supporting bar 47. .iAn

actuating rod 71, removably attached .toxa pin 72 on one arm of thecrank, oscillates said crank, whiie a.e;second'1rod:e73fv huvingffan adjustableV and pivotal "attachment at; r one end with said crank and a pivotal connection l at its other en'd with thej` drivingiirathet member 58, causes the oscillation of sai-.d driving member. The adjustable'connec'tion between the rod 73 and vbell crank .7G-'is formed as follows: A radial slot 74 (Figf11) in the crank receives the reduced end of a pin 75. which passes through a` washer 76 above 'the slotV and is threaded in a nut .77

beneath the slot. `This pin may be clamped which operate upon counter-clockin any position desired throughout the length of said slot. The rod 73 has an enlarged end with a bore therein tol receive the pin 75, said end being .furnished with a pointer 78 carried above aaduated scale 79 on the margin-fof ysadbe l..crank.l This scale is graduated in' accordance with rizo rious paper stocks, and with reference thereto accurate adjustment of the pin 75 is possible, and the desired advancement of the carrier 49 upon cach oscillation of the driving ratchet member 58 is readily obtained. From the foregoing, it will be seen that when the cover 65 is turned to the extremity counter-clockwise direction, the carrier will be moved forward orv backward through the action of the screw 51. able when adjustment of the carrier through short distances is required. When it is desired, however, to quickly shift the carrier through greater distances, as is often neces- Sary in replenishing the supply of paper and also in the initial adjustment of the carrier, the cover 65 is turned to the extremity of its clockwise movement thus disengaging the female screw members 62 from the screw 51 and permitting free backward.. and forward movement of the carrier 49.V

Reverse movement of the cover 65 engages the members 62 with the screw 51 and the movement of the carrier is again made dependent upon the rotation of the driven ratchet 55. The supporting bar 47 being pivoted upon the post 46 permits the swinging of the feeding table into inoperative position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, the rod 71 being necessarily first detached from the pin 72 on the bell crank 70. This position of the feeding table rmits easy access to the platen and bed o the printing press. For the purpose of separating sheets of paper upon the feeding table, the rear margin of said table is serrated and beneath said margin the air jet 42 is mounted. Said jet comprises a pipe 80 having a number of vopenings 81 therein registering with serrations' 82 in said table. Said pipe is connected through a tube'83 with th exhaust side of the pump 39, air being di cted upward through said openings and between the first few sheets to be fed. Slidably mounted upon said pipe are front guides 84. Each guide consists of a strip of sheet metal split longitudinally at one end thereof, one

portion being turned substantially around the pipe 80, but not obstructing the openings 81 therein, while the other portion is turned back beneath the pipe and upward against the bottom of the feeding table 35 to form a sliding brace for said guide.

rIhe delivery table 36 is secured in horizontal position upon the frame 30 of the 'printing press beneath the feeding table 35'.

The hollow standard 44 is secured to the sub-frame 43 and `extends from a point near This result is desir- 'against .a seat 109 in coiled spring 110. lifter 111 mounted upon the housing 87 is the floor to a point above the printing press. A bearing. 85 mounted at the upper end of said standard consists of offset cylindrical housings 86 and 87 cast integrally and at right angles with respect to each other, communication between the two being obtained through an opening 88. The-housing 86 closed at its upper end and threaded at its lower end upon ,said standard holds the housing 87 horizontally over the printing press. Vithin the housing 87 is an oscillatory cylinder 89l hereinafter, at times referred to as an eccentric. Said cylinder has a reduced extension 90 at the inner end thereof offset from the axis of said' cylinder and an enlargement in the form of a disc 91 upon the opposite end thereof. A bore 92 passing longitudinally through said cylinder 89 extension 90 and disc 91 communicates through a port 93 in said cylinder with the opening88 between the housings 86 and 87. An oscillatory, hollow shaft 94 having a port 95 registering with said p'ort 93 is journaled in the bore 92 of said cylinder, the outer f end of the shaft 94 being closed and supplied with an actuating arm 96 while the inner end of said shaftcommunicates with and carries the hollow-feeding arm 37. At the lower extremity of the feeding arm 37 is a cross-rod 97, having a bore 98 therein which communicates with the passageway 37"L in said feeding arm and uponthis cross-rod a plurality of suction grips 40 and 40a are mounted. The grips 40 are stationary and the grips 40a are adjustable to suit sheets of paper of varying widths. Each stationary grip 40 (Fig. 6) includes a bearing 99 encompassing the .cross-rod 97 and a conduit l00'depending therefrom having an enlargement at its extremity to form a suction cup or nozzle 101. The grip 40 is fixed 'ible tube 106 through a cutoff valve 107 with the passageway 37a in the feeding arm 37. Said passageway is normally closed, at the upper end of said feeding arm by a ball-valve 108 which is yieldingly held said' arm, by a A trip-arm or valveadjustable through the arc in-which said ball passes, said arm being fixed as desired,. by means of the set screw 112, to lift the ball 108 from its seat, thus opening the passageway 37a in the feeding arm, to the outer air. A second-ball valve 113 intermittently rests against a seat 114 within the housing -86 to obstruct the` air passageway between 91 to liftl the ball valve 113 and isswung forward by the cam surface 119 also on said disc 91 to release said valveg113, the-same being re-seated by gravity and suction;

y The delivery arm 38, best seen in Figs. 2 and 4, includes a substantially upright branch 120 and a horizontal branch 121. A boss 122 near the lowerv end of the former is journaled in a bracket 123 depending from the delivery table 36. An axial passageway in said boss communicates with an airpassage way leading through the upper part of the branch 120 and extending into and through the horizontal branch 121 of the delivery arm. A loose sleeve 124 upon said horizontal branch forms a. mounting for the suction grip 41. This grip includes a hollow stem 125 slidable longitudinally' .in an Vadjustable clanr'p 126 secured upon said sleeve 124. The forward end of 1 the stem' 125 is enlarged to formv a suction cup 127 and said stem is connected, by means of a, flexible tube 128, with the open end of the branch 121 of said delivery arm. A reciprocating rod 129 connected with actuating mechanism, hereinafter described,` is attached to the lower end of the branch 120 and oscillates the armto carry the suction grip 41 to position for grasping a. sheet of paper from the platen and to return said grip to position above the feeding table.' In order to clear the platen and to properly seat the suction cup 127 upon. a printed sheet, we supply means for tilting the grip during the movement of the delivery arm. An arm 130 carrying a roller 131 is pivoted upon the branch 120 and is connected through a link 132 with anl arm A133,011 the sleeve 124. This roller 131 rests upon a cam slide 134 and is yieldingly held thereon through the medium, of a tension spring 135 arranged between the arm 133 and branch 120. Said cam slide 134 is designed to direct the suction grip so as to clear the platen of the printing press and to properly place said grip upon the printed sheet. A 'cut-off valve136, on the bracket 123, is connected through a tube 137 withthe intake side of the pump 39 and is also connected through a tube 138 with the hollow boss 122 on the delivery arm. A vertically movable pis-- ton 139 in said valve A(Fig. 5) is yieldingly depressed by a spring 140, said piston having a port 141 in its side communicating with a passageway 142 leading to the upper end thereof. The port 141 is arranged to register with an opening 143 in said valve,

when the piston 139 Iis raised against the acsaid opening 143 and obstructs the same,

thus closing said air channel. A cam 144 having a lubly moun upon 'the boss 122 of the delivery arm 38 in such position that the piston 139 rests upon the periphery thereof. This cam has two lugs 146 protruding from its face and extending into the path of the arm 38, one 'above the boss 122 and the other beneath said boss. These lugs are ixedto the cam 144 in suchv positions that the upper lug is engaged-bythe arm 38, when the grip 41 reaches position above the delivery table and the lower lug is engaged by said arm when the grip 41 reaches receiving position upon the platen. The depression 145 in the cam is located with respect to` these lugs so that the piston 139 is raised and the valve 136 opened when the gri is in receiving position (dotted lines, ig. 4) and 4also during the return of said gripto delivery position (solid lines, Fig. 4).

The combination suction and pressure' gression 145 therein is revopump 39, which is of usual construction, is

mounted upon a bracket 147 secured to the sub-frame 43. The intake side of said pump is connected4 with the suction grip 41 on the delivery arm, as above described and is also connected with the suction. grips 40 and 40a on the feeding arm through conduits, heretofore described, which communicate with a tube 148 leading from the intake side of said pumpto the hollow standard ,44. The driving gear 149 of the pump 39 meshes with an idle gear 150, which is @our- "naled in the sub-'frame 43 vand driven sem the gear 33 ofthe printing press.

y The mechanism. employed' for actuating the feeding and delivery arms will now be described.

frame 43 and a support 152, we have fixed three cams 153, 154, and 155'and a driving l gear 156 which meshes with a gear Vo'rmed integrally with the idle gear`150. This gearing is timed so that the cams turn through 360 degrees during a complete revolution of the driving gear 33 of the printing press. Fig. 18 of the drawings show these cams inr detail, lthe cam 153 being illustrated wholly in solid lines, while the concealed portions of the cams 154 and .155

are respectively shown in dotted and broken lines. A bell crank 158 mounted on thesub-frame A43 carries a roller 159 'on' the Aarm 160, said roller resting upon the surface of the cam 153.. The other arm 161 of said bell crank is pivotally' attached to the rod 129 leading to the delivery arm 38-and a. compr spring 162 'interposed between 11o f To a shaft 151, mounted between the subra-mee 'said/arm '161 and the. subsane tesinaingly holds the roller 159 againstQsaidflcaIn 153.'4 Levers 163 and 164 are pivoted upon shaft 165. Thele-ver 16,3 has aroller. v166 which bears upon'the cam 154 and `is con:- necte'dwith a tension spring 167 attached to the .sub-frame, said spring acting tov-.hold the roller 1( i6against said cam 154.A AA' con'- necting rod 168 joins the free end of the lever 163 with the arm 96 on the shaft, 94 and 'causes the'A feeding arm ".37: to swing backward and lforward from the feeding table 35 to the platen of the printing press and further causes the connecting rod 71, which is also. attached to said arm' 96 to reciprocate and rock the bellcrank ,70' heretofore described. The lever 164 is supplied.

with a roller 169 bearin upon the cam 155, said roller being yieldingly held on the surface of said cam by means of atension spring 170 arranged between said lever and the sub-frame 43. A connecting rod 171 joins said lever 164 with the disc 91, the connection between said rod and disc being made at a point near the periphery of the latter, whereby the eccentric (cylinder) 89 is oscillated upon the raising and'lowering of said lever 164. The cams 153, 154 and 155 are designed'to operate the feeding and delivery arms 37 and 38 as shown in Figs. 20

. v to 29 inclusive. Beginning with Fig. 20, the

arm 37 is shown approaching the feeding table 35, which movement is caused by the cam 154. In Fig. y21,-the feeding arm 37 has reached its highest point, the cam 154 being formed to hold the shaft 94, temporarily against further rotation. At this pointit will be seen that a counter-clockwise vrotation of the eccentric 89 is caused by the camr 155. This'movement shifts the-arm 37 longitudinally toward the feeding table (Fig. 22) then tilts said army ydownward (Fig. 23) thus placing thesuction grips 40 and 4()a inposition against the lower-.margin vof the first sheet upon the feeding table.

At this point the cam surface l118 upon theV disc 91 swings the arm 116 (dottedl lines l'Fig'. 14, solid lines Fig. 1.9) and lifts the cut-ofi' valve 113. thereby causing suction at the mouths of the grips 40 and-40", which grasp the adjacent sheet of'paper.. Continued rotation ofthe camv 155 (Fig. v24)r turns the eccentric 89 ina clockwise direc- 4`tion, .thus tilting the arm37 upward and sliding the grasped sheet vupon, the second sheet. This preliminary. sliding motion of -the, first sheet breaks any shreads or the like which may connect the same'w'ith other .sheets and-effects a complete separation of said sheet from `the second sheetin case the air jet 42 has so failed to do. At this point the cam 153 operatesA to advance vthe delivery arm 38. .Continued rotation ofthe cam 155 (Fig. `25) withdraws the feeding arm 87 vthrough the action of the eccentric 89` and carries-.the sheet. to a position removed rvfrom the front guides 84. At this stage the -suction grip 41 on the delive arm 38 grasps, the v,printed sheet from the platen 32 of'thepress. Upon further rotation of -the cams 153', 154 and 155 (Figs. 26 and 27) the cam 154 causes the feeding 'arm 37 to swingrdownward with decreasing speed, the c am 155, through the eccentric 89,' lowersfsaid arm longitudinally and the cam 153freturns the-.delivery arm 38. `Continuing,ig. 2,8) the cam 154 swings the feeding-.arm to extreme rearward position, atwhichpypoint or sooner, according to the adjustment of the trip-arm 111, the ballvalve 108, (Figs. 12 and 13) in the feeding arm 37 is 'unseated thus discontinuing the suction in the grips 40 and 40a and releasing the sheet upon the vplaten 32.`

Further movement of the cam 155 (Fig. 29) quickly lifts the feeding arm 37 longitudinally through the action of said eccentric, to clear the platen 32, while continued rotation ofthe cam 1.54 returns the feeding arm 37 toward the feeding table with increasing speed. Just prior to the unseating of the ball-valve 108, the cam surface. 119 on the disc 91 swings the arm 116 14, dotted lines Fig. 19 ball valve 113 to fall back upon its seat 114, and close the passageway `leading to the suction grips on the feeding arm 37.

A yielding finger 172 attached to the lower end of the feeding arm 37 (Fig. 15) extends beneath the tips of the suction grips 40 and 40a. This finger presses gently down upon a sheet as it approaches position against feed guides 173 upon the platen of the press and insures the-proper placement of said sheet against said guides. The mechanism vprovided for actuating the tripping lever 34 upon the press, when the grips 40 and 40-.fail to grasp a sheet of paper, includes 'a piston 174 (Fig. 12) located within the hollow standard 44, be- "neath the opening 175 leading tothe intake "side of the pumpy39. A stop-pin 176 in said `standard limitsthe downward movement of said piston. Depending from the piston 174 is a chain 177, which is attached at its lower end toi-alever 178. Saidlever is pivoted near the middle thereof to the sub-frame 43, the forwalfdend of said lever to which said chain is'attached, being supplied with asliding weight 179,y while the rear end thereof is connected through alink 180 with an arm (solid lines, Fig. i thus permitting the 181 upon a rock-shaft 182 mounted on thelf" legs 31'? of the bed`31. Attached `to one end' .of said rock sha-ft 182 (Fig. 3) is an arm 183 withv a pin 184 therein. Abar 185 slidably mounted at its rear end in a guide 1863s pivotally attached at its forward end to t' receive the pin 184 in the a d' [83,31 which time the oscillatory movement of the bed 31 is imparted to the tripping lever 34, thus preventing registration between the bed 31 and platen 32. When, by reason of vsuction in the grips 4() and 40al a sheet is grasped from the feeding table, the piston 174 in the standard 44 is drawn upward by suction and operates through the lever 178 and rockshaft 182 to hold the pin 184 out of the path of the notch 187 in the bar 185. Insuch case, the neutral position of the trippinglever 34 is unaltered.. If for any reason, a sheet is not grasped by tlie grips 40 .and 40a at feeding position and the mouths of said"y grips are unobstructed, no suction is effected in the standard 44 and the piston 174 remains at point of rest upon the Stop-pin 176. The, action of the weight 179 on the lever 178 in this event causes the pin 184 to enter the notch 187 in the bar 185. Forward movement of the bed then results in shifting the lever 34, thereby preventing contact between the bed and 'platen'. The subsequent' than is required. Referring to Fig. 17, it

will be seen that the body 189 of the valve is threaded in the .standard 44. A compartment 190 within said bodycommunicates with the passagewayin said standard and also through an elbow 191, with the tube 148 c'leading to the pump 39. Air inlet openings 192 in the body 189 of the'valve are normally closed by a valve head 193. A valve stem 194 for said hea-d is slidable in f the body 189 and carries at its threaded eX- tremity, an adjusting nut 195 and a lock nut 196 therefor. Interposed between the body 189 and said adjusting nut 195 is a compression spring 197 the tension of which is regu-A lated by the adjustment of the nut 195. Pressure from-without forces the valve hea-d 193 inward, when suction within the conduits becomes excessive. Air then enters the compartment 190 through the openings 192, until the valve head 193 is reseated by the action of thespring 197.

ln accordance with the patent statutes we have described the=principles of operation of our invention together with the apparatus which we now 'consider to be the best embodiment thereof, but we desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustriti and that the invention can be carried outI by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth withing. the scope of the following claims.

Although driven from the press mechanism and coordinated therewith and with each other, the pack advancing means, the

sheet feeding means and the sheet deliveryy means are adapted to be severally swung into inoperative positions, such placement of said means permitting of unhanipered 'accessto selected portions of a press or to either of said means'with a minimum distiirbance of parts. The shifting of the pack advancing means and of the feeding means into inoperative positions, singly or together, is attended-.with the throwing out of operationof said means without disturbing the action of the delivery means` while the shifting of the delivery means into inoperative position is attended with the throwing out of operation of said means without disturbing the action of the pack advancing and feeding means. In addition, therefore, to having selective access to press parts and to said means, it will be understood that the press may be conveniently operated entirely by hand, partly byhand and partly automatically or entirely automatically as desired. The pack advancing means is ren-' dere-d inoperative and moved out of the way of an operator by first disconnecting the rod 71 from the pin 72 and then swinging the table back, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The sheet feeding means is rendered inoperative and placed in position unobstructing hand feeding by swinging the arm 37 upward above its normal sheet receivingposition (Fig. 1) and thus holding the same by any suitable means not shown. Prior to elevating said arm `37 the rod 71, just mentioned, is disconnected from -the pin 72. In elevated positign out of the way of an operator, the spring 167 is extended and the roller 166 on the arm 163 lifted from engagement with the cam 154. The sheet delivery means is rendered inopera` tive position so as not to obstruct hand delivery, by uncoupling the rod 129 (Figs. 3 and 4) from the stud on the branch 120 and tilting said branch back out of the way. Releasing the feeding' arm 37 to the action of the spring 167, permits of return of the roller 166 to engageinent with the cam 154 and the swinging of the feeding table back to opeifative position (solid lines, Fig. 6) accompanied by the coupling of the rod 71 with the bell crank 70 replaces the feeding and pack advancing means in timely operation. The re-oupling of the rod 129 with the branch 120 results in restoring the sheet de 'very means to timely operation.

hile we have shown a` platen press in connection with our improved device and,

'have stated that the preferred use of said device 1s found in combipation with such presses, it has been proven to be well adapted for use with cylinder presses. We, there` fore, desire it to be expressly understood that we do not limit the use of our improvement to platen presses, but Aclaim protection covering it in connection with any printing couple or analogous device. i.

Having described our invention what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: v

1. The combination with a printing couple of a sheetsupport, an eccentric, an oscillating feeding arm carried by said eccentric, a grip on the feeding arm, said `arm being adapted to take a sheet from the support, deliver it in receiving position to a member of the printing couple and return to starting positiolnand means for rocking the eccentric to extend the arm at both extremities of its throw and to retract the same at the beginning of its swing therefrom.

2. The combination with a printing couple of a sheet support, an eccentric anoscillating feeding arm carried by said eccentric,

`a grip onk the feeding arm, said arm being adapted to take a sheet fromy the support,

deliver it in receiving position to a member of the printing couple and return to starting position, means for rocking the eccentric to affect the extension and retraction of said arm in its swing and to correct the location of said eccentric pior to subsequent actuations of said arm by said eccentric. l Y

3. In a sheet feeding device `adapted to take' sheets from a sheet support and present f them to a member of a printing couple,

an oscillating tubular feeding arm swung from a support above the printing couple, a source of air exhaust connected with' the head end of said arm, a pneumatic grip on lthe lower end of said arm,jsaid` arm in printing couple, an oscillatin its cycle of operation being arranged to swing said-grip from a position of engage ment with .a sheet on said support to a position of placing said sheet on said member of the printing couple,an air ingress ductl at the head end of said arm, a valve closing said duct, and adjustable means `for opening said valve to release the sheet grasped by the grip at a predetermined position on said memberof the printingl couple.

4. The combination with a printing couple of a sheet support forming a rest yfor the s lower edges of a pack of sheets, a front guide for saidl sheets at the forward margin of said support, a rocking eccentric above the feeding arm carriedby said eccentric, a grip on the feeding arm, said arm in its cycle of operation being adapted to take a sheet from the sheet support, deliver it inV receiving position to a member of the printing. couple and return to startin position, the operationnof the arm inclu inglongitudinal movements with swinging movements `to separate the sheet from the pack, to clear the support, to clear the sheet when deposited and vto return the grip yto position in proper relation to the support.

5. The combination with a printing couple` and support for a pack of sheets, of a feeding device adapted to take sheets, one at a time, from. vthe, pack, carry Nthem y edge l fore'- most to the sheet receiving member of the printing couple and release said sheets, during edgewisey movement, closelyabove said couple member, said device ycomprising a grip, a mounting therefor and means for shifting the mounting to carry the grip forward to said couple and back to the sheet support, said'mounting being adapted to carry said grip in its return. throw to ka point beyond sheet grasping position to effect a sliding, stripping movementvof the grasped sheet on the adjacent sheet prior to the forward throw of the grip.

6. In a sheet feeding device adapted to take sheets from a sheet support and present theln to the platen of a printing couple, an oscillating feeding arm swung from a support above the bed, a pneumatic grip thereon, said arm in its cycle of operation being arranged to swing the gripfrom a position first engaging a sheet yon said support, thence upwardly substantially parallel with the plane of the surface of said sheet to disengage said sheet from said support, thence outwardly away from said sheet support and4 thence downwardly to a position of delivery to said platen and means for oscillatin said arm.

g. The 'combination with a printing couple of a sheet support, an oscillatory feeding arm adapted to take sheets fromi said support and present them to a member of theI printing couple, grips on sai-d arm, van eccentric upon which said arm is mounted. means for swinging 'said arm 4and means for turning said eccentric to vary'the reach of the arm. n l y 8. The combination with a printing couple of a sheet support, a feeding arm above the printing couple. said arm being adapted to take sheets from said support'and present them in receiving positionto one memberof the printing couple, a suction grip on said arm, a rocking eccentric upon which the arm oscillates, a source of suction communicating with said grip through said eccentric and arm and means for intermitmeans for turning said eccentric to supplement the action of the means for swinging said arm, whereby the suction grip thereon is directed to clear the sheet supportand platen and also to slide the first sheet enaged upon the second sheet, then carry said rst sheet beyond said uide, preparatory to the downward swing osaid feeding arm.

10. The combination with a rinting press of an oscillatory feeding arm aving a bore therein, said arm being swung from a support above'the' press and-)adapted to vtake valve and open said bore to the outer air,

thus discontinui'n the suction in said grips and releasing a eet grasped thereby.

l1. In 'a sheetfeeding device, theA combination with a printing couple, a sheet support, an oscillating arm, a suction grip 'thereon means for swinging the arm, said grip being adapted to travelin an arc-like -path and to take sheets, one at a time, from the support, carry them edge foremost and 'release the same, during edgewise movement, upon the sheet receiving member of the-printing couple, the movement of a sheet by said grip being at a speed suiciently great to float the trailing side thereof and suction interrupting means adapted tovdiscontinue suction within the grip at different points near the end of its feeding throw to vary :the positions of discharge of said sheets;

12..The combination with a printing coupleof a pack support, a. rocking eccentric -above the printing couple, an oscillating feedingarm carried by said eccentric,

-a grip on the feeding arm, said arm in its cycle of movementbeing adapted to separate a sheet from the pack on the sheet support, deliver it in receiving position to a member of the-'printing couple and' return to starting position, the movement of the eccentric' during the swing of said arm being caused at predetermined times with respect to theposition of the arm to prop-A erly' direct -said grip."

13. In a sheet feeding device, .the combinationwith a printing couple, a feeding. amia- Slwtion grip themas Said arm being" 1p totake sheets'.` from a sheet support an drop them, duringI arranged to cause -the edgewise movement, onto the sheet .receiving member vof the printin cou e, means formoving the arm and a justa le suction interrupting 'means adapted .discontinue suction within the grip at various'-points in .thithrovrof said am 14. In a sheet vfeeding device ladapted to take sheets from a sheet supportand present themtc a printing press member, an oscillatory arm swung from-a support over the press, a pneumatic grip on the lower end of said arm and means for swinging said arm, said arm being arranged to swing said :grip with decreasing speed direct from said 'support to said press member.

15. In asheetffeeding device adapted to take sheets from a .sheet support and present them to a printing press member, an oscillatory arm swung from a support over the press, a pneumatic grip-on the'lower end'of said arm and means for swinging 30 said arm, said arm being arranged to--swing said grip with varying-speed direct from said support to s-aid press member. .y 16. In a sheet feeding device adapted to take sheets from a sheet support and pre-l sent them to -a printing press member, an oscilliatory arm, a pneumatic grip on said arm and eccentric means for swinging said arm with decreasing speed direct from said n support to said press member.

17. Ina sheetl feeding device adapted take sheets from a sheet support and p i'esent them to a printing press member, an

oscillatory arm, a pneumatic grip on saidarm and eccentric means for swin "ng said arm with decreasing speed direct rom said support to said press member and back to said support with increased speed.

18. In a sheet feeding deviceadapted to` talgesheets from a sheet support and` -present them to a, printing .pressmember, en 'scillatory arm swung froml a supportover the press, a pneumatic grip en the lower end of said arm 4and means for swinging said arm downwardly from said support-to-fsai-d. press member and back to .said support with a quick start, slow deliveryto -said member and quick return.A

19. In a sheet feeding device adapted t o. take sheets from a sheet support and p i e 110 sent them to the platen of a printingpress, an oscillating arm swung from a. support.'- over `the press, apneumatic gripy on theA lower end of said arm and means for swing-1 ing said arm, said arm being arranged tov swing said grip in a; downward arc froinf Vsaid support direct to said platen-and in a different are beginning abovefthe sheetdepositing plane to clear said-platen duringlA V the tipping operation yofthe latter.v 126 20. In a sheet feeding dev-ice en take sheets from a sheet ,support and' prelsent theml to the platen o-fa printingpress, ,M1 'Oscillating afm swims, frnitai'silr Ort; over the press,'a pneumatic grip on thej'lgow 12 er endofsaid arm and means for syvi "ngf said am and, as@ ,raisingsaipga s ne.

a sheet from the s iipportupwar y,.fthence m9villssi 1-gri m1trel alista-Ewa the'grip quickly downwar y 'with-sine 'ri-,#130

sor

ing speed near delivery to said platen and finally quickly returning said grip to point of beginning adjoining said sheet support.

21. In a sheet feeding device adaptedto take sheets from a sheet support and present them to a 'press member, an oscillatory arm swung from a support over the press, a pneumatic grip on the lower end offsaid arm and means for swinging said arm downwardly from said support to said member and back to said support with a quickstart, slow delivery to said member and quick return.

22. In a sheet feeding devicel adapted to take sheets from a sheet support and present them in receivingposition to a member of a printing couple, an oscillating arm, a gripv thereon and yielding means for swinging said arm, said means being adapted toadjust itself to accord with the movement of the arm to and from elevated inoperative position, wherein the members of the printing couple are unobstructed by said arm.

23. In a sheet feeding device, the combination with a printing press, of a feeding table, a feeding arm swung from an overhead support, a suction grip on the arm,l means for swinging the arm back and forth' in a limited operativecycle of movement, said gri in the operative cycle of said arm beinga apted to carry sheets in a down` ward arc-like throw from the feeding table vand drop them during edgewise movement onto the sheet receiving member of the press, said arm having a supplementary upward throw in continuation of its operative t upward movement to allow the shifting of said arm into elevated inoperative positiony unobstructing a make ready attendant, said means for swinging said arm in its operative oscillatory path permitting of the shifting of said Varm into inoperative position above its operative path. f

24. The combination with a printing press of means for advancing a pack of sheets to be fed, feeding means ladapted to take sheets from the pack advancer and present them in receiving position to a printing member of the 'press and delivery means for removing printed sheets from the press, said means 4being driven from the res mechanism and co-ordinated therewlth and with each other, and said means beingseverally movable intoinoperative positions, the shift- ,ing of the pack advancing means and of the feeding means into inoperative positions,

Isingly or together being attended with the throwing out of operation `of said means without disturbing the action of the delivery means, theA ,shifting of the delivery means into inoperative position being attended with the throwing out of operation -them edge foremost to the. sheet receiving had to selected portions of the press or to either of said means with the minimum disturbance of parts and-whereby the press may be conveniently operated entirelyby hand, partly by hand and partly automatically `or entirely automatically, as desired.

, 25. In a sheet feeding device adaptedV to take sheets from a support and present them to a member of a printing couple, an oscillating arm swung ,from a point over the println couple, a grip on vsaid arm and meansV or swinging the arm, said arm being arranged to carry the grip downward in an arc-like sweep from sheet receiving osition adjacent saidsupport to sheet disc arging platen, a grip on said arm, and means for swinging the arm to carry the grip in an arc-like path, between said support' and platen, said gr'p being adapted to carry 95 sheets without he aid of any other agency and ata speed suiiicientlygreat to preventY them from settling substantially, by gravity, prior to'reaching selected position of dis charge. 1

27. In a sheet feeding device for printing presses, a feeding arm, a suction grip there-- on, said arm having a conduit and adapted to take she'ets from a sheet support, ca rry 105 member of the press and releasesaid sheets near and at the end of the feeding stroke v l of 4said arm, means for moving the arm to direct the grip `to and from a position for receiving sheets, a valve in said conduit no and means for opening said valve and thereby releasing the sheets-in various positions of said arm to accord with the desired ositions of rest of said 'sheets Aupon the eet. receiving member. Y n

28. In a sheet feeding device, the combination' with. a printing couple, affeeding arm, a suction grip thereon, said arm being A mounted abovethe printing couple and arranged to lcause the grip'to take sheets fromu ,12

' a sheet support and drop them, during edgeof said means without disturbing the .ac-f

tion of the pack radvancing and sheet feed- `ing means, whereby r'e'ady access may be dmeans adapted todiscontinue suction within wise movement, onto the sheet receiving memberof the prmtingcouple, means forvv moving the arm and suction interrupting thegrip at Avarious points near and at endof its forward stroke.

29. In a sheet feeding device, the comb inat'on with a printing couple, of a feed- `thev ing arm, a suction gripy thereomeaid arm u.'

beingmounted above the printing couple and arranged to cause the grip to take 'sheets from a sheet support and carryl them edge foremost to the 1 sheet receiving mem-v ber'of the press, means for moving the arm and suction interrupting `means adapted to discontinue suction within the grip at various points near the end of the'feeding stroke 0f said arm, whereby ultimate positions of rest of'said sheets von the sheet `receiving member may be regulated 'to accord with the speed of operation and character of the stock employed.

30. The combination with a printing couplc-of a sheet support, an oscillating feeding arm having a floating mounting therefor, a grip on the feeding arm, said arm being adapted to take a sheet from the support. swing it to a member of the printing couple and return t0 starting position and means for actuating said mounting to first extend and then retract said arm to permitI the grasping of a sheet on the support and the subsequent clearing of said support by said grip.Y y 31. The combination with a printing couvple of a sheet. support, an oscillating feeding arm having a floating mounting therefor, a grip on the feeding arm, said arm being adapted to take a sheet from the support, swing it to a member lof the printing couple and return t0 starting position and means for actuating said mounting to extend and later retract said arm to permit the deposit of the sheet in clo'seproximity to said member of the printing couple and to prevent subsequent interference of the grip with the deposited sheet.

32. The combination with a printing couple of a sheet support, an oscillatory feeding arm adapted to take a sheet from the support, present it in sheet receiving posi- `tion to a member of the printing couple and return to startin position, said armbeing first extended t en retracted at the ends of its throws t0 reach a sheet on the support and thereafter clear said supportand to accurately deposit the sheet and thereafter clear the sheet deposited.

33. In a sheet feeding device for printing presses, a feeding arm, a suction grip thereon, a suction pump, a suction passageway communicating with said grip, said arm being adapted to take sheets from a sheet support, carry them to the sheet receiving member of a press andrelease said sheets near the end of the feeding stroke of said arm, means between said pump and grip for obstructing said passageway prlor tov 4the completion of the feeding stroke of said arm, a valve to admit air to the passageway between said grip and said'obstructing means and means for actuating said valve to release sheets in various positions of .said arm near the end of the feeding stroke thereof.

34.-In a sheet feeding device adapted to.

sheets, edge foremost, from the platen, a

feeding arm, a grip thereon, said arm being adapted to swing said grip upward and downward between the support and platen, a delivery arm, a grip thereon, said delivery arm being adapted 'to carry said grip forward to .and backward from the platen, be'- neath the said support, the movements 'of said arms being co-ordinated to avoid interference with the platen and with each other.

35. The combination with a printing press, an oscillatory feeding device adapted to take sheets from a sheet support and present them to a member of said press, said device including an arm, a pneumatic ing the arm between receiving and discharging positions, an eccentric upon which said feeding arm is mounted and means for turning said eccentric to supplement the action of the means for swinging said arm, whereby the suction grip is directed to reach a sheet oli the sheet support, then clear said support preparatoryto the sheet carrying throw of said arm.

36. The combination with a printing couple, a sheet support, a grip adapted to take a sheet from the support, swing it edge foremost to a member of the printing couple and* return to starting position, a mounting for the grip, means for moving said mounting to swing the grip and additional n. vans for further actuating said mounting to permit the depositingof a sheet by said grip in close proximity'to said member of the printing couple and to avoid subsequent interference 0f the grip with the deposited sheet.

37. The combination with a printing couple, of a sheet support, a grip adapted tov ABEL KLUGE. ENEVAL K LUGE. 

